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2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J, WESTBBRG. Apparatus for Scraping Ships Bottoms.

(ModeL) Patented March 8,181.

4! a IMP a #5. I a. li S l a r I! I (ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

J. WESTBERG. Apparatus for Scraping Ships Bottoms. No. 238,624. PatentedMarch'8, I881.

UNTTED STATES I PATENT @EEICE.

JOHN WESTBEBG, OF BBAHESTAD, FINLAND, RUSSIA,

APPARATUS FOR SCRAPING SHIPS BOTTOM S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,624, dated March 8,1881.

Application filed February 1, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JonN WESTBERG, of Brahestad, Finland, in the Empireof Russia, have invented certain new and useful Im provements inApparatus for Scraping the Bottoms of Vessels, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description.

The apparatus in which my invention is comprised is intended for use onvessels at sea, the object being to obtain an apparatus which, while theship is in water, can be effectively used to scrape and clean the shipsbottom.

The characteristic feature of the apparatus consists in the combination,with the scraper proper, or that portion which directly acts on thesides and bottom of the vessel, of automatically shifting inclineddeflecting plates, which, whether the scraper be drawn up or down, actto press it closely against the ship.

The manner in which my invention is or may be carried into effect willbe understood 1 by reference to the accompanying drawings,

in which- Figure 1 is-a perspective view, and Fig. 2 a transversesection, ofan apparatus embodying my invention.

That portion of the frame of the apparatus which holds the scraperproper, or the device or devices which act directly on the ships sidesand bottom, may be of any suitable shape and dimensions.

In practice I find it advantageous to use a rectangular frame, A, ofwood or other proper material about three feet by two. In this frame areplaced the scrapers, which, in this instance, consist of two frames, B,each hung on pivots a, and each containing two smaller frames, 0, armedwith metallic scraper-blades c, and pivoted each to the larger frame Bat b. The arrangement of the two sets of pivots a and I) is such as topermit the scraping-surface to adapt'itself freely to the sides andbottom of the vessel. This is one convenient kind of scraping-surface;but I do not restrict myself to the same. I can use stiff bristles orany suitable instrumentality, and the scraping device may be pivoted ornot, as preferred.

The frame A is backed by hinged inclined plates D, which, as beforesaid, are the means of pressing the scraper against the side of the(ModeL) vessel. These plates are hinged to the frame A at cl, and whenclosed rest on the triangular sides E or other suitable support. Theyare connected by lines or chains 6, as shown, this being a nicety, not anecessity, all that is needed being that each plate shall be soconnected with the frame of the scraper as to be prevented from openingbeyond the prescribed angle. By connecting the two, as shown, theopening of one will compel the closing of the other.

I remark that I may use one deflecting-plate, or I can use more thantwo. I find, however, in practice that the best results can be obtainedfrom two.

The scraper is provided at the top and bottom with linesf, by which itis drawn up and down. It is also in practice provided with a line at oneor both ends, g, by which its position lengthwise of the ship may beshifted.

The mode of operation is as follows, reference being had to Fig. 3, inwhich the scraper is shown in position for use on a vessel. The scraperis lowered in the water alongside the vessel, a line, f, extending fromeach side of the vessel, and by these lines the scraper is drawn up anddown. When drawn down the under plate, D, will close and the upper onewill open, thus presenting inclined surfaces against which the waterwill act to press the scraper closely against the vessel. When thescraper is drawn up the plates will automatically shift to the positionshown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, and full lines, Fig. 2, in which positiontheir angle of inclination is again such as to cause the water to pressthe scraper against the vessel. The deflecting-plates will thusautomatically shift with each reversal of the motion of the scraper, andwill at all times present surfaces so inclined that the pressure of thewater thereon will act to jam or force the scraper against the vessel.

With a device such as shown I can scrape a vessels bottom to within twoor three feet each side of the keelson.

For scraping the bottom at the bow and stern, where the lines are sharp,I make use of a hand-scraper, such as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, of smallerdimensions, provided with a handle, F, of suitable length-say fromfifteen to twenty feet-and with metallic scraper-blades,

one of which is shown separately in Fig. 6. The form and dimensions ofthis scraper differ somewhat from the scraper shown in Figs. 1 and 2,but the principle of operation remains the same. The shiftii'ig-plates Dact with entire efliciency to hold the scraper tightly against thevessel. In this scraper, as well as in the other, the scrapirig-surfacemay be formed of metallic blades or of any other suitableinstrumentalities.

Havingdescribed myinventiomwhat I claim, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. A scraper for ships bottoms provided with one or moreautomaticallyshifting inclined plates movable with respect to thescraper-body to which they are jointed, and

arranged and operating to present to the water at all times facesinclined in such direction that the pressure thereon of the waterthrough which the scraper moves back and forth will tend to hold thescraper against the vessel, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination, with the scraper proper, of the hingedautomatically-shifting inclined deflecting-plates, substantially as andfor the purposes hereinbefore shown and set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day ofJanuary, 1881.

JOHN \VESTBERG.

\Vitnesses E. A. Drum N. 0. LANE.

